Lebanon (NH) High School Residency
May 15-19th, 2023
But the bridge, it’s unforgiving…
for Wind Band and SATB Choir
Every year LHS hosts a writing contest and as part of the commission they decided to add a poetry component. The winning student’s poem would be used as the lyrics for the commission.
Vivid
Two dots of paint, together in the world. Both color and laughter, they danced and they twirled. They flew and they fell, they cried as they laughed. They sat on a bridge and felt the updraft. They turned to another, vivid and clear. “Please never leave. I love you my dear.”
But the bridge, it’s unforgiving. And the bridge, it changes tune. So we find a small dot standing. Underneath the moon. Its color is long faded. Its red turned to white. And it falls forward, succumbing to the night.
One dot of paint, left in the world. No longer does it dance, no longer does it twirl. It sits alone and cries, it looks for nothing left. It notices the empty space and contemplates its death. To the darkness it screams at night. “Please never leave. This isn’t right.”
And the bridge, it’s unforgiving. And the bridge, it changes tune. So we find a small dot standing. Underneath the moon. The bridge beckons forward. The color loses faith. It’s all so overwhelming, no one left to save.
The week of the concert Emma and Dom invited me out to work with their groups for their upcoming concert and it was a blast! We worked on the commission, I served as a guest conductor for Paul Cravens’ From the Ashes, and we practiced how to project our intention to the audience and the beginnings of ensembleship.
And congrats to all the graduating seniors! I wish you all the best luck in your endeavors. Follow your dreams and live in the moment! Thank you for having me and for the gift. I’ll never forget my time with you all.
Click here to watch the premiere
In May 2022 I received an email from choral director Emma Cooke (center) and band director Dominick DeFrancisco (right) from Lebanon (NH) High School.
One dot of paint, alone in the world. The colors inside, faint and whirled. Underneath is the coaxing end. The dot looks down, wanting a friend. But it doesn’t fall, not tonight. “Please don’t leave, You’re strong despite.”
An updraft blows, their eyes meet together. And somewhere between there is small tether. Connected in color, connected in hope. Suddenly it’s not such a slippery slope. The colors mix, nil to glow. “I won’t leave. I won’t go.”
So the bridge, it is forgiving. So the bridge it holds strong. And we find two dots falling. Both with nothing gone. They both fall backwards. The bridge it holds on tight. And together they are vivid, shining in the night.
The winning student was then freshman Ellie Clark, pictured above (right). Her poem, entitled Vivid, was used in the commission.
The heaviness of this poem is very evident. After reading Ellie’s poem the first time I was speechless as this topic of suicide hit close to home for me. It’s always hard to accept the reality of losing someone to suicide, but it’s important to remember and celebrate their life and I firmly believe Ellie captured that feeling in her poetry.
